A magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus includes a tape loading mechanism including a driving ring gear member, first and second ring gear members for shifting first and second tape guide posts, respectively, and first, second, and third gear members engaging the driving ring gear member and the first and second ring gear members, respectively. Each of the first through third gear members includes a gear part and a cam part in the same plane. The cam part of the first gear member has an arcuate shape. The cam part of the second gear member engages the cam part of the third gear member so as to transmit rotation during the operation of the tape loading mechanism, and is pressed against the circumferential surface of the arcuate cam part of the first gear member in a state where the operation of the tape loading mechanism is completed.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus, comprising: a tape loading mechanism including: a driving ring gear member; first and second ring gear members for shifting first and second tape guide posts, respectively; and first, second, and third gear members, the first gear member being rotatable by rotation transmitted from the driving ring gear member, and including a first gear part and a first cam part in a first single plane, the first cam part having an arcuate shape, the second gear member being rotatable by rotation transmitted from the first gear member to rotate the first ring gear member, and including a second gear part and a second cam part in a second single plane, the third gear member being rotatable by rotation transmitted from the second gear member to rotate the second ring gear member, and including a third gear part and a third cam part in a third single plane, the third cam part being shaped so as to be engageable with the second cam part of the second gear member, the first, second, and third single planes forming substantially a single plane, wherein the second cam part engages the third cam part so as to transmit rotation during an operation of the tape loading mechanism, and is pressed against a circumferential surface of the first cam part in a state where the operation of the tape loading mechanism is completed.
2. The magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the driving ring gear member and the first and second ring gear members are superimposed on and supported by a guide member so as to be rotatable independent of one another.
3. The magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein: the second cam part includes a projecting cam part and a concave cam part formed adjacent to each other; and the third cam part includes a concave cam part and a projecting cam part formed adjacent to each other.
4. The magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein: the projecting cam part of the second cam part includes a convex cam portion projecting from a tip circle of the second gear part; the concave cam part of the second cam part includes a concave cam portion formed inside a root circle of the second gear part; the concave cam part of the third cam part includes a concave cam portion formed inside a root circle of the third gear part; and the projecting cam part of the third cam part includes a convex cam portion projecting from a tip circle of the third gear part.
5. The magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein: the concave cam portion of the concave cam part of the second cam part includes a plurality of concave portions; and the convex cam portion of the projecting cam part of the third cam part includes a plurality of convex portions.
6. The magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein: the second and third cam parts engage each other so that the projecting cam part of the second cam part engages the concave cam part of the third cam part and the concave cam part of the second cam part engages the projecting cam part of the third cam part.
7. A magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus provided with a tape loading mechanism, comprising: first, second, and third gear members engaging first, second, and third ring gear members, respectively, so that rotation of the first ring gear member is transmitted to the second and third ring gear members via rotation of the first, second, and third gear members, whereby a tape may be selectively loaded and unloaded, the first ring gear member being a driving gear member, wherein: each of the first, second, and third gear members includes a gear part and a cam part formed in a single plane, the cam part of the first gear member having an arcuate shape; and the cam part of the second gear member engages the cam part of the third gear member while loading or unloading the tape, and is pressed against a circumferential surface of the cam part of the first gear member when the tape is loaded.
8. The magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein each of the cam parts of the second and third gear members includes a projecting part and a concave part shaped so that the projecting part and the concave part of the cam part of the second gear member engage the concave part and the projecting part, respectively, of the cam part of the third gear member while the tape is loaded or unloaded.
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June 2, 2003
April 26, 2005
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